Wild Turkeys

Using the trail camera set to "video" provides a much more complete
way to observe and enjoy the wildlife in the woods beyond the garden. The older camera that I started out with never could hold a charge long enough.

September Still Life

King Fisher

Two Great Blue Herons Celebrating the End of Summer

The Summer people and swimmers have gone, and all is quiet on the Lake. The Kingfishers are able to relax on the ladder of the raft; two Great Blue Heron's performed an amazing ballet over the water, and the Eagle perches on overhanging branches.  Ok. The Heron's don't show up too well in the photo, but theyswooped and spun, taking turns touching the water, then soaring again.

Huge Black Bear

The woods "smelled" different when I took my walk today. This video reveals the reason. He's pretty big!
I do hope he's just passing through. Guess I'll get a bear bell and some pepper spray.

Moving on...

The old buck being chased away by an old doe.  The other deer in the group include a daughter born last year.  The mother apparently didn't raise a fawn of her own this spring.  Whatever the case, she's decided that this old buck should move on. In the 2nd video our new fawn receives a lesson in sharing at the salt lick.

August Still Life

Trio of Mushrooms

Moist August days;  mist on the lake in the morning, distant  thunder in the afternoon...
A heavy rain, washing clear the trail littered with rocks and dead wood.

Moose Tracks

Moose Tracks

Moose tracks, captured this morning with the iPhone.  There had been a heavy rain overnight, and the Moose Tracks were clear. They looked like overgrown cow tracks. This must be a younger one. He didn't sink too deep into the mud, and while they were wider than the heel of a man's shoe print, they weren't as long.

We recorded our walk on an iPhone app. Total length: 2.24 miles. The going was rough, we stopped frequently to "check out" various tracks,  and to contemplate a handsome old Oak Tree which had recently snapped off half way up it's trunk.    Wish the Moose had walked by my Trail Camera.....

Video of Late Night Visitor

I decided to try the Video function of the Bushnell Trail Camera...
The deer have become used to the simple still photo action, ...but the light created by the video is a new thing.
I am hoping that the Buck or the Fawn will pass by during the day...

Visitors this past week

The Fawn's first visit...Out of Hiding!

Later that night...a Buck in Velvet!

Doe Visiting the glade

Eight am Visit. Soon she will be bringing her fawn(s) out of hiding. 

Young Black Bear

 I wonder if the bear scared off the deer? Between June 16th and today the only movement triggering the camera  appears to have been  a flying squirrel.

Flying squirrel?

Going on a Bear Hunt

Black bear in the Glade

Going on a Bear Hunt

Memorial Day Parade

Geese Family Memorial Day 2012: Taken with my iPhone from the Deck

The Buck visits at Midnight

June 1 2012: Midnight Visitor
Notice the new antler's beginning to grow on this Buck

It will be interesting to see if this fellow continues to visit the area throughout the summer so we can see how large his antlers grow...

Snail

Feeling  his way across the driveway. 

 Where are his eyes?
On  the tip of the longer tentacles.

The Luna Moth

This is the first live Luna Moth I have ever seen in the wild.
There were three of them clinging to a barn door in broad daylight.
The next day I saw another. 

YouTube life cycle of the luna Moth

After the Storm

A violent Thunderstorm brought the deer together deep in the hemlock grove.
Occasionally they huddled together, side touching side,  heads facing away from the wind. 

Quiet Moment

The Yearling and her Mom

New Trail Camera Up and Running

On Alert: A porcupine is nearby.

A new Bushnell trail camera.!! 8 m pixels, infra red at night, and uses 4-8 AA batteries. It is tiny and goes unnoticed.  This new one is placed in the same "secure" location....just off a well used animal trail, in a grove of Oaks and Beech, surrounded by Hemlocks. It is a hike in any direction to deer feeding grounds, but offers sanctuary, especially to expectant does.

Wild Honeysuckle Blooms in May

The Fragrant "Swamp Pink"

Another spring...last year I posted a photo of this fragrant bush in full bloom.
This year's image was taken with my iPhone4S.



Swamp-pink

To him who keeps an Orchis' heart –
The swamps are pink with June.
               Emily Dickinson















"But with June comes the most exquisite of our New England wild-flowers, the arethuta, or swamp-pink,——The Atlantic Monthly, Volume 5 (1860)

"Swamp Pink . . . they are eagerly sought after, and form a conspicuous part of the decoration of the mantel-piece, in its season, the month of June. The color is commonly a fine pink.——New Book of Flowers (1866)

Baby Snapping Turtle

Tiny Turtle

This Prehistoric-looking turtle was found and photographed by my neighbor. Many years ago my son somehow pulled a giant snapping turtle into his canoe.
"Mom, can I keep it?"
I should not be surprised that 30 years later a giant snapping turtle is still resident and  reproducing.